Contextual factors influencing the implementation of a new midwife education programme in India: A qualitative study

The Government of India has committed to educate 90,000 midwives in accordance with international norms. This goal is critical as midwives save lives through providing evidence-based, high-quality midwifery care. There is a need to explore the contextual factors influencing this new midwifery education programme. Hence, the aim of this study is to explore contextual factors influencing the implementation of the national midwifery education programme for midwifery educators and the future Nurse Practitioners in Midwifery (NPMs) in India. A qualitative research design was used, with data collected through focus group discussions (n=8) with a total of 27 participants representing seven national and international organisations supporting the Indian Government in its midwifery initiative. Transcribed interviews were analysed using content analysis according to Elo and Kyngas. This study on contextual factors influencing the implementation of the new midwifery education programme in India showed that organisation and administrative processes are complex and the production of midwifery educators and nurse practitioners in midwifery needs to be fast tracked. The education of educators and future midwives in India, and elsewhere in similar settings, could benefit from efforts to simplify the organisation and administration processes and, in parallel, mobilize innovative teaching and learning approaches to bridge theory and practice.